With the availability of Detroit Red Wings star center Dylan Larkin dominating hockey conversation, the Montreal Canadiens may have a very similar option waiting in Seattle.
Larkin requested a trade out of Hockeytown in the offseason and many teams looking to add depth up the middle are heavily interested in the 30-year-old Michigan native. Montreal is among them, but the two-way center has exercised his no-move clause and given Detroit a ten-team trade list that does not include the Canadiens.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Habs have reportedly "moved the needle" on possibly being added to that list, but they could also look elsewhere for a solution if they fall short.
On Tuesday, during TSN's Early Trading segment, insider Darren Dreger noted that the Seattle Kraken have been active in the market for a top-line scoring winger and would be willing to move one of their centers to get one. One name that stands out as a fit for Montreal is 32-year-old veteran Chandler Stephenson.
Larkin gets plenty of praise as a marquee name on an Original Six team, but Stephenson carries a similar player profile with slightly lower scoring numbers in a small market like Seattle.
The case for Chandler Stephenson over Dylan Larkin
Larkin has proven to be a consistent 70-to-80-point player, while Stephenson has been a step removed as a solid 50-to-60-point player. Both play top-unit power-play minutes and center the penalty kill, and either would give Montreal a major boost on both special teams units. This season, Stephenson has produced at a better rate with nine points in 12 games, compared to six points in ten games for Larkin.
Stephenson also carries a far better long-term cap hit as he is signed for four more seasons after this one at $6.25 million per season, while Larkin sits at $8.7 million for the same stretch. Stephenson is two years older, which is a factor given the length of the contract, but his lower price tag means Montreal may not have to give up as many assets as it would for Larkin.
The cost could be far lower in terms of assets as Montreal could offer a player like Oliver Kapanen, a young 23-year-old forward who isn't the top liner that Seattle is looking for but could slot into the top-six. Montreal could sweeten the deal with future assets that the Kraken could flip if they want to keep adding.
Stephenson brings far more playoff experience than a player like Larkin, with two Stanley Cups and 95 playoff games under his belt, in which he recorded 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points.
The only caveat is that Stephenson has a no-trade clause but he may be persuaded by the chance to win another Cup with a team like Montreal and agree to waive it. The Saskatoon native may also be happier to return to his home country, while Larkin is still waiting to be persuaded to move to a Canadian team.
If Montreal comes up short in its pursuit of Larkin, it could turn to the next best thing in Stephenson.
Add us as a preferred source on Google